Whitmer references political aspirations in lighthearted speech in DC

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Saturday night made fun of her own purported political aspirations and chided a few Republicans and Democrats alike in a lighthearted speech full of Michigan references at the Gridiron Club and Foundation's annual spring dinner in Washington, D.C.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were in attendance and also sat at the head table for the dinner, a white-tie affair that sees the Marine Band perform and members of the club — Washington's oldest journalism organization — perform skits and sing songs for their political guests, which also included several Cabinet members, ambassadors and others.

The Estonian prime minister and the taoiseach, or prime minister, of Ireland were in attendance. Biden, as is customary when the president is there, spoke before the show ended with the traditional singing of "Auld Lang Syne."

Whitmer was this year's Democratic speaker for an event that always includes one speaker from each party, with Utah Gov. Spencer Cox representing the Republicans. Whitmer began her short speech by obliquely noting those reports that suggest she could have plans for a higher office in 2028, saying, "I'm attending this humble, grassroots white-tie dinner for one reason: to convince people that I have zero national aspirations."

She also took aim at some potential rivals in her own party, saying Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a billionaire whose family owns Hyatt hotels, is "the only guy with more gold bars in his house than (New Jersey Sen.) Bob Menendez." Menendez has been accused of receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in gold bars in connection with a bribery allegation. She also wondered if "a billionaire hotel heir is the right profile after the last guy," meaning former President Donald Trump. "But hey: at least J.B. is actually a billionaire."

Whitmer also mentioned California Gov. Gavin Newsom, "who is as California as I am Michigan." While he "got caught violating COVID orders at the French Laundry," a well-known and respected restaurant in northern California, "I got caught pushing tables together at the Landshark," a reference to a sports bar in East Lansing. "But I got to tell you, their fried pickle chips are divine!"

As for the subject of Biden's age — he is 81, with many of his critics suggesting he's too old to run for reelection — Whitmer, who is a national co-chair of his campaign said she disagreed. "In four years, you’ve managed to turn Bud Light, football and a global popstar (Taylor Swift) into liberal icons. Even Barack Obama couldn’t get that done," she said.

Whitmer saved much of her sarcasm for Republicans, including entrepreneur and former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who she said, "makes every American grateful for the invention of the mute button," and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. "I heard Ron is already thinking about running in 2028 and I just want to say, from the bottom of every Democrat’s heart: Please do. Put those heels back on and keep putting one foot in front of the other."

Her biggest laugh line of the night came when she noted that House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, and his teenage son both use a software app on their electronic devices that monitor if either of them view pornography called Covenant Eyes that is based in Owosso, Michigan.

"Thanks for your business, Mr. Speaker!" she said.

Turning to Trump and his reelection hopes against Biden, the governor became more serious, noting the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol in which supporters tried to stop Congress from certifying the vote for Biden, and a group of protesters, some armed, who entered the Michigan state capitol in April 2020 to protest stay-home orders during COVID. Whitmer also referenced the failed plot to kidnap and possibly kill her, for which some of those accused have been convicted and sentenced to prison.

"I personally know the stakes of rising political violence too well," she said. "The plot to kidnap and kill me was proof that there are people out there willing to subvert democracy by taking matters into their own hands. In the years since January 6th, I’m afraid we’ve gone from collective shock to apathy. We don’t realize that something similar — or worse — can happen again this election."

"We cannot devote all our energy to figuring out where Kate Middleton is while our politics descend into fascism," she added.

"Thank you for welcoming me tonight," she said. "If you loved my speech, I’m Gretchen Whitmer. If you hated it, I’m (New York Gov.) Kathy Hochul."

Then she added, winking, "I’ll see you all again in 2029!"

Contact Todd Spangler: tspangler@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @tsspangler.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Whitmer references political aspirations in lighthearted speech in DC